Posted on 02/11/2004 6:07:59 AM PST by day10
The Atlantic 10 Conference is investigating an allegation that a Fordham University team manager may have used a walkie-talkie to relay Xavier's plays during a men's basketball game between the conference rivals. Xavier, which won the game 74-52 Saturday on its home court, made the allegation, said Ray Cella, the Atlantic 10 Conference's assistant commissioner for public relations.<>BR>
Xavier sent a videotape of the game by overnight delivery Monday to the Atlantic 10 Conference office in Philadelphia, said Bill Thomas, a Xavier spokesman. ``We're going to talk to people and take a look at the tape, when we get it, and see where it goes from there,'' Cella said. Fordham coach Dereck Whittenburg denied any incident took place. ``There's no walkie-talkies,'' Whittenburg told The Cincinnati Enquirer after the game. ``I don't know what you're talking about. You got any evidence of that? I have no idea of what you're talking about.'' A message seeking additional comment was left Tuesday on voice mail at Whittenburg's office on the Fordham campus in New York City.
Cella said he did not know when the investigation would conclude. He declined to comment about possible penalties if the allegation was substantiated. Thomas said he didn't know who made the allegation against the Fordham team manager, who was allegedly sitting near sports writers on the opposite side of the court from the Fordham bench and speaking into the walkie-talkie, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported on Tuesday. The Fordham manager was notified that such communication was not allowed during NCAA basketball games and moved back to the Fordham bench before halftime, the newspaper reported.
Xavier coaches typically communicate their offensive sets to players by writing on a dry-ease board. By viewing the videotape, conference officials could try to determine whether Fordham had team representatives stationed around the court with walkie-talkies. ``It was brought to our attention and the coaches said something to the refs at halftime,'' Thomas said. NCAA rules stipulate that teams may not communicate to and from the bench area by way of electronic transmission. If a referee catches a team engaging in such activity during a game, a technical foul is supposed to be called. In this case, referees did not witness the alleged communication, Thomas said.
But remember: the real problem with college basketball is Bob Knight.
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